Old Folkie

Original songs written and performed by Bill Sidenstick.Instrumental accompaniment provided by John Sessums.

Nature

Old Folkie

Philosophy

Green and MeanThis song expresses my unhappiness with the Trump administration and how the politics of pollution have become more evident. Pebble MineRachel Carson was the first to alert people to the health risks of chemicals in the environment. That was 1962 and the hazards to the ecology appear to have greatly increased. The EPA Forgot to "P"Rachel Carson was the first to alert people to the health risks of chemicals in the environment. That was 1962 and the hazards to the ecology appear to have greatly increased. What the Frack is Fracking?Fracking appears to be very dangerous to human health, but the companies getting natural gas in this manner have some protection. The public is largely unaware of this process and of potential dangers. The Uranium DragonWho knew, but Uranium ore is mined and we have a major deposit in Southern Virginia. Legislators have been heavily lobbied to lift the ban on mining, but they have to consider the risk to human health. A Gallon Of GasWe all look at the advertised price of a gallon of gasoline, but we need to look at the bigger picture. We need to be aware of the larger cost to the environment and to human health. The Last ButterflyButterflies are a symbol of beauty and renewal, but butterflies are disappearing, with some species headed to extinction. The extinction is no doubt due to habitat loss and pesticides. Enjoy them while they last. Polar Ice BearIt is likely that Polar Bears will become extinct in the lifetime of our grandchildren, due to the melting of the Arctic ice. The bears are the innocent victims of human indifference to climate change and its consequences. Rachel CarsonRachel Carson was the first environmental activist. She brought attention to the unintended consequences of DDT. We are living with the consequences of more serious environmental toxins today. Mr. GoreAlbert Gore made us aware of global warming and was stigmatized for mentioning it, but he will be recognized when the full consequences of climate change are experienced.

Culture

Stardust and StoriesIt has been verified that stardust is in our bodies, since elements in our bodies were created in stars and distributed in space following the stars explosion. The dust gravitates to bodies such as our planet where it is absorbed into plants and consumed directly or indirectly by people. To me, stardust represents our cosmic connection, but we spend most of our time in everyday pursuits living out our “stories”. The Mouse SongI had to kill a mouse in my house, I didn’t like to do it because he was just trying to live, as we all are. It made me wonder if there is a universal plan and if humans will ever understand the plan. Along The WayLife seems to be less about following a plan than dealing with random events and learning from them. Inside A SongI wrote this song after accidentally listening to an old gospel song, "Farther Along." Unusual for me, I used the same gospel style which I like, but since I am not a participant in church life, I include some of my own point of view. Old ScoutPriests and ministers used to say only humans go to Heaven, but it seems they have equivocated to please dog owners. We don’t know if the churches are ruling that dogs have souls or if they only can get in on a family pass. Gift ExchangeI wrote this song for use by people concerned about our environment, who when meeting during the Christmas season have a non-religious song to enjoy. Apologies to GalileoThis is my tribute to Galileo who underwent the now iconic trial in which he was tried for heresy by the Catholic Church. Galileo, Darwin, Jesus and MeEncouraging people to be more creative and think about sharing their thoughts. Human ConditionDescribing the reality in which we find ourselves and our dilemma in trying to find answers. The Reason for It AllThinking about the purpose or intention of the universe and if humans will ever know. The Big TestHaving a little fun with the idea that we should accept the “mystery” explanation of our world and not think about it. Thinker's HymnAn attempt to describe the situation a "nonbeliever" is in, in our current culture. Unscrew the InscrutableMy personal goal for the existential aspect of my life. What Are We Doing Here?My perspective on what humans can do at this stage in our evolution.

Lives That RhymeWe enjoy rhyming in our lives, when memorizing, and in poetry and songs. Also, lives can rhyme, or work well together. This is a love song, particularly for my wife, Pat, and myself. HopeI wrote this song when Russia attacked Ukraine and we saw so many children dying. Of course, we now have children in our nation dying by violence. We should have hope. Have You Ever Wondered Why?Rather than give people my version of what was and is behind the abuse of nonwhite minorities, I thought it was more effective to have people think for themselves. This is similar to the folk classic, “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” I Can't BreatheOn May 25, 2020, George Floyd died while in police custody. This was a seminal event in the history of Black people dealing with the justice system and the awareness of the general public of the injustices suffered by Black people. Breath FreeCurrently our nation’s attitude towards immigrants and refugees is mixed. I went back to lines from Emma Lazarus’ poem which was placed in the Statue of Liberty to contrast that welcoming attitude with our nation’s current uncertainty. Can We All Get AlongIn 1992, violent race riots exploded in L.A., and 54 people died. Rodney King, a black man, a convicted thief, was brutally beaten by police. Riots started when police were acquitted. To quell the riots, Rodney spoke on TV, “People, I just want to say, Can we all get along? Why can’t we all just get along?” Build a Better World TogetherJohn Lennon's 1970 war protest song, “Give Peace a Chance” would not resonate in today’s world. I took his phrase, “All we are saying is …” and changed the ending to “…build a better world together.” The song is an anthem to encourage people of difference to live and work together. Beauty in the WorldIn the winter of 2019, I heard people saying that it is an ugly world. It bothered me to see that there were people feeling a little more discouraged than usual. I wrote this song to remind people that we can always find beauty in the world if we look for it. Piece of Pie in the SkyWe are all conditioned to be consumers and from a cultural perspective, we are taught that we can buy happiness. By extending this reasoning, we should be able to buy the ultimate happiness - a place in Heaven.